Main Quest Content

Videos

This is the point in your class journey when the main quest video assignments get lighter and you can focus your time more on the experiential practices, or you can also catch up on any content you missed from the first four weeks.

This week's first video completes the Journey for the Fool through the Major Arcana, with a focus on cards 15-21. These are the cards when the Fool's journey is peaking, and they are super special ones to pull in a spread. They also include cards that explicitly invite us to connect with the sky (The Star, The Moon, The Sun), and so they are where tarot practice directly intersect with astrology/skywatching practice.

Tarot Assignments

Besides continuing to practice the five card spread and altar practice every day whenever possible, there are two other assignments that I previously assigned in week three, that I am offering again here. Perhaps waiting until week five could be better for you. 

First Exercise: Bring the major arcana cards from both decks together, spreading them out on a large cloth, or perhaps on your bed/blanket, and placing both Fools side by side, followed by the Magicians from both decks, and so on.

It is now time to meditate on the differences and similarities between the two decks.Try to connect with the inspiration Ma Deva Padma found in the Pixie deck, and see if you can understand her unique interpretations/evolutions of Pixie's major arcana cards. The Pixie deck is the only deck she worked with before creating the Osho Zen Tarot, and so we can be confident that she drew her main inspiration from Pixie's deck.

See if you can understand her choices with each card, but try not to get too intellectual about it. Allow your intuitive mind to take over the process, and see if any cards have new guidance for you after this exercise.

Second exercise: With both of the full 78 card Deva and Pixie decks, divide the cards into 3 stacks for each deck. The first stack for each deck should have your favorite cards, the ones that make you that happiest and bring you the most pleasure (your "enthusiastic yes" cards). The second stack for each deck should have the cards that activate strong negative reactions or that trigger challenging feelings (your "decisive no" cards), and the third stack for each deck should contain the more neutral cards. Make note of how many cards you have in each stack.

Ask yourself why you have such positive associations to your enthusiastic yes cards, and more negative associations to your decisive no cards. With the more positive cards recognize how they are a positive mirror of your most important positive traits. With the more challenging cards, do your self-love practice, and then recognize that these cards might reveal some of your own shadow material.

See if you can transform the shadow card into a loving message from your higher self. Perhaps write out a dialogue with your higher self about these shadow cards, imagining that it is your best friend or a loving therapist that is talking with you about these cards.

Optional exercise: Next time you pull the Star, Moon, or Sun cards in the answer position of a 5 card spread read it as an assignment from your higher self to actually go out to be with the Sky that day.

For example, if you pull the Sun card as your answer, then try to get out to see the sunset that evening, or go out for a walk in the Sun, appreciating the warmth on your skin. Or if you were to pull the Moon card you would read it as an instruction from the Moon herself to become aware of her phase and take time to understand were to look for her that night. As you make direct contact with 

Crystal Assignment #1

The second video is on crystal magicK, and one of your assignments is to take a field trip to your favorite local crystal store. Or if you are not fortunate to have a store mostly devoted to crystals, then perhaps you have a store that happens to also sell crystals, and there is a difference between these. You could go to a store you already know, but it could also be really fun to do some research to find a new store to check out. It is definitely worth driving a ways to find a new beloved store.

Crystal Assignment #2

Once you are at this store your next assignment is to buy a crystal. This is potentially a very magic experience, and I encourage you to find your crystal (or more accurately let your crystal find you) intuitively. Get into a flow state and let yourself be pulled around the store. When you feel excited by a particular crystal ask if you can hold it and see how you feel while holding it. The right crystal will feel like a new friend that you can't wait to hang out with regularly.

Crystal Assignment #3

On your next skywatching expedition take your crystal out with you and hold it out to what you are trying to connect with, whether that be a planet or something else in the sky, and let that crystal carry the memory and energy of that skywatching experience going forward. My wife and I have several crystals that we take out with us every time we go to see a Moon-Venus conjunction. These crystals contain all of those amazing memories (now going back to 2021), and are filled with so much meaning.

Side Quest Content

There are a bunch of side quest videos this week, so obviously just check out the ones you feel pulled towards.

The first side quest video continues to introduce a number of oracle decks and it could be helpful to be exposed to these if you are looking for a new deck. 

The second video is an introduction to "The Grateful Dead Tarot." In case you haven't noticed the big tattoo on my arm, I'm a huge Dead Head, and this is now one of my favorite tarot decks. The first edition printing is very special and quite expensive ($150), but there is now a 2nd edition available for under $30. I have only experienced the first edition and I can definitely say that it is worth the price, made with very special card stock and printing process, as well as a gift box with hard cover guide book. Any true dead head who also loves the tarot is sure to love this deck. 

I also think that if you are not as into the music of the Dead, that getting this deck might inspire you to listen to more of the music. Regardless, the art is incredibly beautiful and the commentary takes you deeper into the essence of the tarot than other decks, and I can't recommend the deck highly enough.

The third side quest item is a link to the suggested video playlist for weeks 5-6. This comes from the 2019 version of the class, and I did not record a video overview on why each video was selected, but you can let yourself be pulled to any of these YouTube videos and then see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

The next video is the continuation of my 2019 series on the majors of the Osho Zen Tarot, and I think it is very worth watching. I had a lot of fun recording these videos and I think something special came through.

There is also a video here I called "Shuffling 3" and I describe the process of recording a video of myself shuffling, and reading the cards out loud as they come, and how this adds an element to the experience. I think something happens when you record yourself pulling cards that somehow pushes you more towards flow (I think because it is a more advanced practice), and it is definitely worth trying for yourself.

The last video is the full recording of the final live meeting of the 2024 class "Why Astrology Needs Tarot," and you might watch this instead of the short excerpt that can be found for week eight  if you want the additional content with student questions and comments, as well as live readings I did for students.

Enjoy!!!